All arrangements in place to facilitate return of Hajis’

SRINAGAR, AUGUST 17:  The Government today said that no untoward incident was reported from the areas where relaxation was given and the process of relaxation would continue tomorrow as well in these areas.

Addressing an evening presser here, Principal Secretary, Planning and Development, Rohit Kansal, who is also Government’s spokesperson, said the easing in restrictions resulted in people to come out besides several private vehicles plying on roads in the areas where relaxation was given.

Mr Kansal informed that more than 23,000 land lines would be made functional by this evening with 17 telephone exchanges already opened across Kashmir valley, adding authorities were on job to open remaining landlines by tomorrow evening.

The Spokesperson said that relaxation have been provided in 35 police stations across the Valley and the situation remained peaceful with no untoward incident reported from the areas where relaxation was given in prohibitory orders.

He said to ease the relaxation in other areas would be decided after assessing the situation by the local authorities.

Mr Kansal reiterated that the Government is planning to open primary level schools in the Valley for which necessary arrangements are being made.

On return of Hajis from tomorrow (Sunday) Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan, informed that a comprehensive plan is in place to facilitate to commute the Hajis to their respective places.

He said two flights are slated to land tomorrow morning at Srinagar Airport carrying more than 300 Hajis, for which ten counters for ten districts have been set up with nodal officers to facilitate them.

He further said that the passes to the relatives of Hajis have been issued through concerned deputy commissioners.

SRINAGAR, AUGUST 17: Director General of Police Shri Dilbag Singh today visited south Kashmir districts of Awantipora & Anantnag and took a review of the security scenario in these areas and the deployment management on National Highway from Srinagar to Anantnag.

He was accompanied by IGP Kashmir Shri S.P Pani and was joined by IGP CRPF Shri Rajesh Kumar Yadav at Anantnag.

Starting from Pampore, Shri Dilbag Singh visited police station Pampore and interacted with police and CRPF personnel.

He appreciated the efforts of police and other forces in maintaining peace and order in the area. He said that the security measures taken for maintaining law and order have been appreciated by the administration and the people as well.

DGP also visited Police Station Awantipora where he interacted with civil society members. He assured them that security of the people and their property is our great concern and every step is being taken to ensure law and order.

DGP along with the IGP Kashmir and DIG Anantnag also felicitated the police personnel of the district who have been awarded President’s Police Medal on Independence Day-2019.

DGP later on visited Anantnag where he interacted with the police officers and reviewed the law and order situation in these districts. The DGP J&K also visited CRPF Camp at Urnhall and interacted with CRPF officers and personnel.

The DGP alongwith the officers took a round of the Anantnag town. During his visit and interaction with officers & jawans Shri Dilbag Singh emphasised upon the Police/CRPF officers to remain in touch with the subordinate units to address their problems as also of the people.

He also stressed for enhanced synergy among the forces for better arrangements. He commended the collective efforts of J&K Police and other security forces for maintaining peace and order in the districts.

There was relaxation of prohibitory orders in the jurisdiction of 35 Police Stations where the situation remained totally peaceful. The DGP has complimented the cooperation of the people in maintaining peace and order. He stated that more areas shall be relaxed tomorrow.

SRINAGAR, AUGUST 17: Coming to the rescue of its Srinagar unit, the Srinagar administration Friday announced support to Aegis Limited, a business process outsourcing company, which has been mulling closure of operations of its Srinagar unit following loss of clients in the district.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary visited the Srinagar unit of the BPO at Industrial Estate at Rangreth here this morning.
The DC while interacting with the unit management said the Srinagar administration was willing to be the client of the BPO if the later offered it services that the administration was looking to set up aimed at providing smart services and quick resolutions to concerns of the public in the district.
The DC’s visit and announcement of support comes a day after he was approached by the management of the BPO unit being informed about its closure plans which threatened loss of jobs of its employees.
Dr Shahid while interacting with the call centre management sought a detailed proposal of what the call centre can offer to the district administration in terms of services that benefit the general public of the district.
He also interacted with the employees of the BPO unit assuring them that all of them will be retained. He said the administration aims to increase employment at the BPO unit from 70 as it is currently to at least 2000 within the next 18 months.
JD Planning Srinagar M Yaseen Lone was also present on the occasion.
Aegis Limited which is a global business process outsourcing company was established in Srinagar in 2010.

SRINAGAR, AUGUST 17: Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan, today informed that admit cards of candidates appearing for Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) examinations on August 18, 2019 shall be treated as movement pass to enable aspirants reach the examination venue.

The CAPF examination, 2019 is being conducted by Union Public Service Commission at 41 centers across the country including Srinagar on August 18 (Sunday).

BARAMULLA, AUGUST 17: Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Dr G N Itoo on Saturday chaired a meeting of all the District Officers and issued strict instructions to ensure 100% attendance in all the Government offices from Monday onwards.

The meeting was called to review the functioning of Government offices in the district for which necessary transport arrangements have already been made for the officials. He said a comprehensive transport plan is already in place to ferry government employees to and from their offices.

“As per plan , SRTC buses to General Bus Stand Baramulla will be available for employees from SMHS Hospital Srinagar, Sopore, Watergam Rafiabad, Uri, Tangmarg and employees will be dropped back to their destinations in the evening, starting from Baramulla at 5pm,” he added.

Deputy Commissioner further said that different teams have been formed to check attendance in offices and said that any laxity shall be viewed seriously.  It was also impressed upon all the district officers to submit attendance report to DC Office at 10:15 am on daily basis.

Furthermore, DC impressed upon the officers of JKPCC, R&B, PHE, PDD, PMGSY, Rural Development Department to pace up work on all ongoing development projects immediately for which necessary assistance, if any, will be provided by their respective HODs. 

Later, Deputy Commissioner also took thorough review of functioning of Agriculture & Horticulture, Transport, Health, FCS&CA Education, Forest, Fire & Emergency Services, Animal and Sheep Husbandry Departments.

He instructed officers from Animal and Sheep Husbandry Department to send team of doctors to different areas for the inspection of livestock. Accordingly CEO Baramulla was directed to issue strict instructions to teaching staff to remain present on their duties so that schools from Monday will be made fully functional.

The meeting was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner, Joint Director Planning, Deputy Director Fire & Emergency Services, heads of various engineering wings and all other district officers.

At least 8,000 paramilitary troops have been airlifted to Jammu and Kashmir from different parts of the country today after the centre announced it would scrap Article 370 from the state, which confers special status.

C-17 transport planes of the Indian Air Force are bringing the troops to Srinagar, sources said. They are in addition to the 35,000 troops that were brought into the state over the past week.

The Army and the Air Force have been put on high alert, news agency ANI reported.

The heavy deployment of troops is to strengthen security across the state as the issue of special status is an emotive one, sources said. Thousands of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims and tourists are already on their way home after the pilgrimage was abruptly cancelled by the government last week.

Article 370 gives Jammu and Kashmir its own constitution and decision-making rights for all matters barring defence, communications and foreign affairs. The removal of this part of the constitution ends special status for Kashmir, which was key to its accession to India in 1947.

The government has also said it wants parliament to clear a proposal that bifurcates the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories which are effectively semi-states. Jammu and Kashmir would be one union territory with its own legislature, like Delhi; Ladakh would be the other but without its own assembly.

The government maintains that the massive troop build-up was in response to a high level of terror threat in the state.

Intelligence sources said terrorists have made multiple attempts over three days – from July 29 to July 31 to cross the Line of Control and around four to five of them have succeeded. The plan was to carry out a terror strike on Amarnath pilgrims, similar to the February attack in Pulwama and four to five of them managed to infiltrate into India, sources said.

Sources also said under the circumstances, it was untenable to allow the pilgrims to continue.

Srinagar, Aug 05: Amidst escalating tensions in the Valley, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti have been placed under house arrest. The move came after an all party meeting that was held in which it was resolved to meet with President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the security situation in the state.

Authorities also imposed restrictions under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Both Abdullah and Mehbooba would remain under house arrest until further orders, prohibiting public movement and public meetings, authorities said.

Abdullah posted on Twitter that he believed he was placed under house arrest and the process had already started for mainstream leaders.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for a crucial cabinet meeting today.
The meeting will be held at 9.30 am at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg.

The meet comes in the wake of a turmoil in Jammu and Kashmir. While the meeting would be held today there is no clarity on what would be discussed.

Meanwhile Home Minister Amit Shah chaired an important meeting relating to security review. The meeting was held with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Home Secretart Rajeev Gauba.

Agencies

Srinagar August 4: The government officials said there would be no curfew tomorrow in Kashmir.

A senior official of divisional administration confirmed to Kashmir Despatch that there would be no curfew tomorrow in the valley.

“All rumours or reports on social media are baseless. People should not pay heed to them, ” the official added.